By Ottawa Sports Pages, for Ottawa Internationals Soccer Club
The goal was to take a serious team photo with fierce-looking stares, but the Ottawa Internationals under-13 girls couldn’t avoid the smiles and bursts of giggles. And in that moment, the teammates and friends showed the bigger objective they are achieving in soccer.
“They’re just such a great group. I couldn’t ask for a better team,” underlined OISC U13 C1 Black head coach Jasleen Bali. “They’re all friends on and off the field. They’re super loud and chatty, but they get the work done and they’re really bonded at all times.”
On the sidelines during the 28th Ottawa Ice Breaker Soccer Tournament, the young Internationals girls shared what they enjoy about soccer, and how they’ve come together through the beautiful game.
“It’s so fun. I love playing with my friends because it’s so much support on the team and so much love, and it’s so nice,” highlighted Lily, an Internationals player who was introduced to soccer by her dad at two years old.
“It’s really fun. I really love it ’cause they’re really supportive of me,” echoed Elise, who began playing at just two years old, after being inspired by her older brother.
“I think every game is a great new memory,” signalled Cece, who found love for the sport by playing at the park with her grandpa when she was young.
“(Playing with this team) is amazing, because they’re all really nice, and everyone lifts each other up and helps each other.”
The Internationals U13s were one of 101 teams participating in the girls’ portion of the two-weekend Ice Breaker Tournament. Competing in the U13 Snow division, the Internationals enjoyed an unbeatable run in pool play at the Ottawa Business Park, before falling 1-0 in the semifinals to the Brockville Lady Generals on May 25.
They shut out the Perth United Flares, Arnprior McNab Braeside United, and Seaway Valley Blazers 1-0, and Ottawa TFC 2-0 earlier on.
The biggest cheer of the bunch may have come when Talia scored with her teammates surrounding her, celebrating.
“It was really touching, because (Talia) was like, ‘Oh, well, I never score,’” her teammate Lily recalled. “Then she ended up scoring a goal, and I was just really happy.”
Playing at their club’s home fields meant no hotels or navigational systems were required, and having family on the sidelines was a favourite part of the team’s Ice Breaker experience.
“It’s really nice because it’s close, my family can all come, and I love the atmosphere of this field, and all the teams that are coming to play have fun,” Cece indicated.
“My family can all come and support me, and they just built my journey,” illustrated Elise, who initially practiced kicking the ball around on the sidelines with her parents during her brother’s games.
“It’s amazing because it builds off of the crowd and everybody here, and it’s so much support, and I love it,” Lily added. “I enjoy most all the support and friendships that are built throughout soccer and just being able to have fun.”
Having been teammates for the past four years, the U13 Internationals have enjoyed many memories together. The team had a special start to the pre-season: playing on the field of the Ottawa Rapid and walking the players out before the club’s inaugural Northern Super League game at TD Place.
The team also enjoyed a two-day bonding activity called Ballo Boot Camp, where coach Jasleen explained that they work on “gameplay, team bonding, tactical and technical work, and we have the Amazing Race.”
Jasleen has enjoyed watching her players grow over the past four seasons.
“Every single one of them has their own personality, and they’ve changed,” she noted. “They all have their own little personalities. Some of them are louder and some of them are quieter, but they’re all together.”
The popular early-season Ice Breaker Tournament – first held in 1995, but interrupted from 2020-2022 by COVID – has been revitalized by an impressive total of 258 participating teams this year, taking over numerous pitches in central Ottawa on back-to-back weekends.
The scores of the girls’ division finals were:
U17/18
Seaway Valley Blazers 1, West Carleton 0.
U16
CS St Laurent 2, Seaway Valley Blazers 1.
U15
Seaway Valley Blazers 1 (3), Russell Raiders 1 (2).
U14 Ice
St Laurent 1, Ottawa City Soccer Club 0.
U14 Snow
Rouge 2, Peterborough City 0.
U13 Ice
Ottawa South United 5, St. Anthony 0.
U13 Snow
Ottawa TFC 0 (2), Brockville Lady Generals 0 (0).
The second weekend of the tournament took place May 31-June 1, with 157 boys’ teams competing. The scores of each division final were:
U13 Ice
Ottawa TFC 2 (4), Ottawa Internationals 2 (3).
U13 Snow
Ottawa South United 3, Quinte West 2.
U14 Ice
FC Laval 1 (5), Ottawa South United 1 (4).
U14 Snow
Russell 4, Ottawa South United 1.
U15 Ice
FC Laval 1, St. Anthony 0.
U15 Snow
Ottawa South United vs Ottawa Futsal Club
U16 Ice
Ottawa Gloucester Hornets 1, Ottawa Internationals 0.
U16 Snow
Ottawa Internationals C2 White 1, Ottawa Internationals C1 Red 0.
U17/18 Ice
West Carleton 1 (4), Ottawa Futsal Club 1 (3).
U17/18 Snow
Seaway Valley 2, Pointe Claire 1.
Single-day festivals were also held for teams in the U9 to U12 divisions.
Learn more about the Ottawa Internationals Soccer Club at OttawaSoccer.com.
